New York state to require convex mirrors on heavier trucks

Heavy truck operators that must install convex mirrors, also known as “cross view” or “crossover” mirrors, on the front of their trucks to satisfy a recent New York safety law can turn to Velvac to help achieve compliance, the company says. Velvac offers a large line of hood-mounted convex mirror systems, which the company says will help operators comply with the new law.

The law, which takes effect on Jan. 14, 2012, requires all trucks registered in the state of New York with a maximum gross weight of 26,000 pounds or more to be equipped with a cross view mirror when driving in New York cities with at least one million residents. The mirror, which eliminates dangerous blind spots, must allow the operator to see a target zone of one foot in front of the vehicle and three feet above the road.

This law – which impacts more than 13,000 trucks, including dump trucks, cement mixers, large delivery vehicles and tractor-trailers – was written in an effort to improve vehicle safety after several young children were killed crossing the street directly in front of large trucks.

“According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, frontal impacts account for almost three-quarters of all pedestrians killed by large trucks,” says Jeff Porter, president and chief executive officer of Velvac. “This law will go a long way in significantly reducing such fatalities, and in protecting pedestrians, especially children, from being hurt when a truck first starts to move. Velvac is pleased to see the enactment of this law, as it supports our longstanding philosophy of developing products, like the Duraball wide view and K-10 Eyeball mirrors, which improve driver safety and reduce blind spots.”